Newtown — Norwich Free Academy erupted for five touchdowns in the third quarter, three by Marcus Outlow, and the Wildcats went on to rout fourth-seeded Newtown 63-21 in the Class LL state football playoff quarterfinals Wednesday night.

The No. 4 Wildcats (11-0) will play No. 1 Staples (10-0) in the semifinals on Sunday at a site and time to be determine.

Outlow caught touchdown passes of 56 and 65 yards from Ryer Caruso and also ran 58 yards for a touchdown with 36 seconds left in the quarter.

In between, Joey Paparelli scored his third TD of the night on a 34-yard run and Ramel Williams returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown.

Khaleed Exum-Strong and Paparelli scored two touchdowns apiece in the first half to help the No. 4 Wildcats open a 28-14 halftime lead.

Exum-Strong gave the Wildcats a 14-0 lead with touchdown runs of 2 and 35 yards in the first quarter before Paparelli ran 17 yards for a TD with 5:01 left in the half and returned an interception 39 yards for another score with 1:56 left in the half.

NFA's Khaleed Exum-Strong finds a hole running it in for the touchdown with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter as NFA faces Newtown in the CIAC Class LL state quarterfinal in Newtown Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012.Tim Cook/The DayBuy Photo

NFA warms up on the sideline before the start of the Class LL state quarterfinal in Newtown Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012.Tim Cook/The DayBuy Photo

NFA's Quarterback Joey Paparelli blasts into the endzone on a quarterback keeper for an NFA touchdown putting NFA up 21-0 with 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter against Newtown in the CIAC Class LL state quarterfinal in Newtown Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012.Tim Cook/The DayBuy Photo